Key retainer and locker



(NoMode1.)

H. W. TUCKEY & A. HARRIS.

KEY RETAINER AND LOCKER.

No. 566,820. Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

s. On 0 T N E V m WITNESSES ATTORNEYS m: mama PETERS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY Vi. TUCKEY AND ALA HARRIS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

KEY RETAINER AND LOCKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Iatent No. 566,820, dated. September 1, 1896.

Application filed June 11, 189B. Elena] No. 595,209. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY XV. TUCKEY and ALA HARRIS,GitiZ611S of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvein cuts in Key Retainers and Lockers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in key-retaining and key locking devices; and it has for its objects the combination of the advantages of both in asingle device and also cheapness and practicability of construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of this invention, the key-locker not being in use, the dotted lines showing the door-knob and key. Fig. 2 is a view of the invention, the key-locker being in use.

This invention consists in forming a device which will retain a key should it become dislodged from the lock, and is so formed that it cannot itself become accidentally dislodged; also, in providing in the same construction an attachment which will, when applied, pre vent the turning the key while in the lock and which will also prevent the key being pushed from the lock.

That part of the invention which retains the key in the event of dislodgment from the lock by accident is the spring-closed loop A. This is formed in the end of the Wire support B, which is of the required length to present the loop directly in front the keyhole. The extension of this wire is coiled to form a round ring 0, which is designed to encompass the shank of the door-knob. In applying this device to a door the handle and shank are removed. The ring (J is then slipped over the shank, and the same is then replaced on the door. By this means it becomes impos sible to remove the device without first removing the handle. The key is then forced into the loop A by pressing the barrel of the key over the outwardly-turned end A of the loop. This gives way and permits the key to pass within the loop. The key may now be inserted within the lock or withdrawn therefrom, as desired, but in either position it will be held by the loop A, through which neither the head nor the handle of the key will pass. Here it will be retained until the key is Withdrawn from the loop by forcing it past the turned end A. The wire of which the ring 0 is formed is extended to form the guide I). This is a small closed ring to receive and hold the locking-bar'E. The locking-bar E is constructed of a stiffer wire and is intended to be inserted in the opening of the key when turned sidewise in the look. It may be raised and lowered freely in the guide D and is provided with the turned ends E E to prevent it being separated from the guide D or the retaining device. In its operation after the bolt of the lock has been shot the key is turned sidewise, as mentioned, and the bar E is raised over an opening in the handle of the key and dropped through the same. In this position it is found impossible to turn the key to such a position as would admit of its being turned, even to such an extent as to permit its being pushed out of the look. When, on the other hand, it is desired to unlock the lock, the bar E is raised out of engagement and the key is free to turn.

Having thus described this invention, we claim- A key rctaining device consisting of a suspension-bar having a ring at the one end to fit over the shank of the door-handle, and a sprin -closed loop adapted to receive the bar of a key at the other, in combination with a guide attached to the said ring and a lock ing-bar which can be inserted in an opening in the handle of the key when not in a vertical position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 27th day of May, 1896.

HARRY W. TUOKEY.

ALA HARRIS.

Witnesses E. F. Munnock, CHAS. F. KELLY. 

